Antagonistic Effect of Cuscuta chinensis on a Rat Model with Unilateral Cryptorchidism

The protective effect of curcumin on testicular tissue in a cryptorchid rat model

BACKGROUND

Cryptorchidism is the most common abnormality of male sexual development. For the protection of testicular functions, antioxidants have emerged as novel options. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of curcumin (Cur), a strong antioxidant, on the Flutamide-induced cryptorchidism testicular tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pregnant rats were randomly allocated to 3 groups (n = 10, each): a control, a model, and a Cur-treated group (100 mg/kg/d). All offspring were delivered by days 21-22 of gestation and the male rats were sacrificed at postnatal birth days (PNDs) PND60. The testicles were separated and weighed, followed by TUNEL staining to detect germ cell apoptosis, an ELISA kit to measure SOD and MDA, and Western blot analysis to evaluate the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and PCNA.

RESULTS

Curcumin administration ameliorated the histological appearance of the testis and greatly reduced the level of apoptosis in cryptorchidism rats' testicular cells. After curcumin treatment, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was restored in the testis tissues of cryptorchidism rats. Curcumin therapy reduced Bax expression while increasing Bcl-2 expression, according to the molecular study. Curcumin therapy also reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in cryptorchidism rats' testis tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that curcumin administration significantly reduced the germ cell apoptosis in rats with cryptorchidism, which provides new insight for antioxidant therapy in preserving testicular functions before or after surgery in cryptorchidism.

The effects and molecular mechanism of heat stress on spermatogenesis and the mitigation measures

Under normal conditions, to achieve optimal spermatogenesis, the temperature of the testes should be 2-6 °C lower than body temperature. Cryptorchidism is one of the common pathogenic factors of male infertility. The increase of testicular temperature in male cryptorchidism patients leads to the disorder of body regulation and balance, induces the oxidative stress response of germ cells, destroys the integrity of sperm DNA, yields morphologically abnormal sperm, and leads to excessive apoptosis of germ cells. These physiological changes in the body can reduce sperm fertility and lead to male infertility. This paper describes the factors causing testicular heat stress, including lifestyle and behavioral factors, occupational and environmental factors (external factors), and clinical factors caused by pathological conditions (internal factors). Studies have shown that wearing tight pants or an inappropriate posture when sitting for a long time in daily life, and an increase in ambient temperature caused by different seasons or in different areas, can cause an increase in testicular temperature, induces testicular oxidative stress response, and reduce male fertility. The occurrence of cryptorchidism causes pathological changes within the testis and sperm, such as increased germ cell apoptosis, DNA damage in sperm cells, changes in gene expression, increase in chromosome aneuploidy, and changes in Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity, etc. At the end of the article, we list some substances that can relieve oxidative stress in tissues, such as trigonelline, melatonin, R. apetalus, and angelica powder. These substances can protect testicular tissue and relieve the damage caused by excessive oxidative stress.

Shudi Erzi San relieves ovary aging in laying hens

Poultry meat and eggs are a primary source of animal protein. To meet the market needs, high yield laying hens are reared continuously, resulting in quick ovary aging. Thus, we investigated the anti-aging effects of Shudi Erzi San (SES) on laying hens. Sixty 300-day-old laying hens were divided into 2 experimental groups and a control group. The control group was fed on a basic diet, which was supplemented with 1% and 2% SES for experimental groups I and II, respectively. Egg quality and changes in serum hormones and blood-biochemical indicators of laying hens were determined. The rate of egg production was significantly higher in group Ⅱ than in both the control and group Ⅰ by 9.29 and 8.22 percentage points, respectively (P < 0.05). Eggshell strength of groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). Albumen height and Haugh Units of group Ⅱ were significantly higher than those of the control (P < 0.05). Serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol in group Ⅱ were significantly higher than those of both the control and group Ⅰ (P < 0.05), whereas groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ had significantly higher serum levels of luteinizing hormone than the control (P < 0.05). Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) did not significantly differ between the control and group Ⅰ (P > 0.05), but SOD and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in group Ⅱ were significantly higher and lower, respectively (P < 0.05) when compared to the control. Compared with the control, uric acid levels in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were significantly lower (P < 0.05), as was urea nitrogen in group Ⅱ (P < 0.05). Transcriptome and KEGG pathway analysis of ovarian tissues of laying hens showed a significant immune related signal pathway as the possible main regulator of a lysosome related signal pathway. Thus, supplementing chicken feed with SES improves egg production and quality and alleviates ovarian decline in laying hens.

Enhanced Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans Treated With Extracts From the Traditional Chinese Medicine Plants Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and Eucommia ulmoides Oliv

To uncover potential anti-aging capacities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was used to investigate the effects of Eucommia ulmoides and Cuscuta chinensis extracts, selected by screening seven TCM extracts, on different healthspan parameters. Nematodes exposed to E. ulmoides and C. chinensis extracts, starting at the young adult stage, exhibited prolonged lifespan and increased survival after heat stress as well as upon exposure to the pathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens, whereby the survival benefits were monitored after stress initiation at different adult stages. However, only C. chinensis had the ability to enhance physical fitness: the swimming behavior and the pharyngeal pumping rate of C. elegans were improved at day 7 and especially at day 12 of adulthood. Finally, monitoring the red fluorescence of aged worms revealed that only C. chinensis extracts caused suppression of intestinal autofluorescence, a known marker of aging. The results underline the different modes of action of the tested plants extracts. E. ulmoides improved specifically the physiological fitness by increasing the survival probability of C. elegans after stress, while C. chinensis seems to be an overall healthspan enhancer, reflected in the suppressed autofluorescence, with beneficial effects on physical as well as physiological fitness. The C. chinensis effects may be hormetic: this is supported by increased gene expression of hsp-16.1 and by trend, also of hsp-12.6.

Rubus apetalus (Rosaceae) improves spermatozoa characteristics, antioxidant enzymes and fertility potential in unilateral cryptorchid rats

BACKGROUND

Cryptorchidism (CPT) is an important cause of male infertility. Rubus apetalus is a medicinal plant with a powerful antioxidant potential. We investigated the effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of R. apetalus on spermatozoa parameters, antioxidant enzymes and fertility potential of rats with experimental unilateral CPT.

METHOD

Normal (n = 15), sham-operated (n = 15) and cryptorchid rats (n = 80; distributed into 16 groups of 5 rats/group) were treated for 2, 4 or 8 weeks with either distilled water (10 ml/kg/day), vitamin E (75 mg/kg/day), aqueous or methanolic extract of R. apetalus (12 and 60 mg/kg). Sex organ weights, spermatozoa parameters, testicular proteins, sex hormones, fertility potential, morphometric characteristics of testis and oxidative stress markers were measured.

RESULTS

CPT significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) decreased testicular and epididymal weights, spermatozoa density, spermatozoa motility, spermatozoa normality, testicular proteins, LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations. In cryptorchid rats, peri-vascular fibrosis significantly increased (p < 0.001), while diameter of the seminiferous tube, germ cell thickness, gestation index and fertility index decreased when compared to control. Additionally, CPT induced oxidative stress by increasing lipid peroxidation and by reducing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. These alterations were corrected by R. apetalus. For instance, a significantly increase (p < 0.05-0.001) in spermatozoa motility, normality, viability and density after 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment was noticed. R. apetalus also increased (p < 0.05-0.001) testicular proteins, gestation index (90-100%) and fertility index (90-100%), compared to the untreated cryptorchid rats.

CONCLUSION

R. apetalus boosts fertility potential in cryptorchid rats and could be considered as a promising alternative agent for the management of infertility associated with CPT.